by Mahmoud Fouly, Yao Bing

CAIRO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- On an ordinary day, a bus packed with Egyptian engineers rolled into the bustling Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt's new administrative capital.

Their destination heaves into view -- a state-of-the-art training center where the Egyptian branch of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) gives hands-on lectures.

Here, the engineers will sharpen their expertise in the art of skyscraper construction, gaining insights from industry leaders as they help shape the skyline of Egypt's future.

"Up We Build (UWB) College" is an on-site training center established by CSCEC Egypt, which has built the 20-tower CBD in the heart of the desert some 50 km east of the country's capital city of Cairo, including the 385.8-meter-high Iconic Tower, the tallest skyscraper not just in Egypt but in Africa.

Having been working with CSCEC Egypt for seven months since graduation, Fahmy Reda, a 25-year-old Egyptian electrical and mechanical engineer, depicts his current job as a big boost to his career.

Although he didn't work in the Iconic Tower, he was keen to attend the lecture to learn about the technologies used in its construction.

"The idea of having a lecture on the Iconic Tower is very useful, as I can learn how other parts of the project were carried out and know about the experiences and technologies used in the Iconic Tower construction," the junior engineer told Xinhua.

Fady Hany said that he gained a lot of expertise from working on the CBD project, "especially since it is the first time in Egypt to have such tall skyscrapers, including the tallest in Africa."

"The lectures held by the company are free for everyone, whether workers or engineers, where Egyptians and Chinese get to know each other and exchange cultures and expertise," said the 26-year-old Egyptian engineer.

The lecture was given by a 30-years-old Chinese instructor Li Luoluo, the Iconic Tower technical engineer, who has been working on the project since six years ago when the place was mostly desert.

"When I look at these high-rise buildings, I feel very proud, not only because I participate in such a world-class large-scale project, but also because it is a symbol of friendship and cooperation between China and Egypt," said the Chinese engineer.

Li has participated in seven or eight training courses and trained more than 200 Egyptian engineers in the company's UWB College. "Everyone was very excited to learn about the Chinese construction technology," he said.

The CBD project is not only a key project of Egypt's national rejuvenation plan, but also a flagship project under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Li Binghong, head of the UWB College, said that the principle of the training center goes in line with the concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, which is supported by the BRI.

"I hope that through UWB we can train more outstanding Egyptian engineers so that they can not only work on our projects but also various projects in the future, and make greater contributions to their country," he added.

The CBD project consists of 20 towers that were all built simultaneously, along with a Central Utility Complex (CUC). The 20 high-rise buildings include 10 office towers, five residential towers, four hotels, and the Iconic Tower, according to Ahmed El-Banna, the CBD project manager from international consulting company Dar Al-Handasah.

"By the end of this year, we will deliver 15 towers, including 10 office towers and five residential ones, and we will also deliver the CUC," he added, noting that the remaining four hotel buildings and the Iconic Tower are scheduled to be delivered in 2025.

"These towers had an impact on the construction industry market in Egypt and the people who worked here benefited from the experience they gained," said the Egyptian project manager, referring to the CBD as the "crown jewel" of the new capital.

"We expect the CBD to be an attractive area for foreign investors and to see international companies here in its towers with a high employment rate," El-Banna told Xinhua. Enditem

(Dina Moutaz also contributed to the story.)

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